Utes mailbag: Decisions about Rising and Kuithe, candy rankings, Vaki love and more

SALT LAKE CITY — Just when you thought even passing mentions of Cam Rising's injured knee and his availability this season would at least calm down now that Bryson Barnes is entrenched as the starter with Rising out ... well, now we have this new storyline to deal with.

We'll start this Utes mailbag right there.

Q: "What happens if Utah beats USC and Oregon? Does Utah still gamble and bring back Cam Rising and Brant Kuithe for a Pac-12 championship push, or do you go with the current set of guys? Who makes the final decision in that scenario? Kyle Whittingham with input from Mark Harlan?" - @benwilkinson

Whew. This is where we are, huh?

During Kyle Whittingham's normal Monday press conference, the possibility of medical redshirts and a seventh year of eligibility for Rising and Kuithe were broached. For that to even be an option, they would have to not play at all this season. Whittingham did not squash the idea, instead offering that, yes, that could be an option down the road.

If I am interpreting this particular scenario correctly, Utah, without Rising and Kuithe, manage to beat USC and Oregon in back-to-back weeks. At that point, you have survived two-thirds of a midseason murderers' row that includes a trip to Washington on Nov. 11, and remain in contention to get back to the Pac-12 championship game.

As a potentially season-defining trip to Seattle arrives, Rising and Kuithe are ready to play, so what do you do?

If one or both of them are cleared to play, especially with Pac-12 championship game hopes intact, I have to believe they're playing. If you're Whittingham, you're obviously wanting that, because that's your QB and unquestioned leader, plus your best pass-catching option. Debuting at Washington and having to knock the rust off in that environment with those stakes is not ideal, but I digress.

As for Harlan, I can't imagine he would have much, if anything, to say on the matter. It's Whittingham's program, and if the AD is going to get deeply involved in something football related, it's certainly not this.

Of course, such a decision likely will not ultimately rest with Whittingham, just as the decision to play them right now is not up to him, either. We would be naive to think there won't be some real soul-searching by Rising, Kuithe, and their inner circles that late in the season.

Age, health, professional aspirations, and NIL possibilities in 2024 should all play a role in whether or not to come back this season with only a handful of games left, even a third straight conference title is part of the equation.

In the end, I will be an idealist. If Rising and Kuithe are ready for Washington with Utah having already beaten USC and Oregon, they'll play.

Q: "Cheese Whiz or american/provolone on a Philly cheesesteak?" - @BabushkaUU

I don't have a strong cheesesteak take for you.

I enjoy them, and if I live to get back to the Northeast, I hope to make my way to the Roxborough section of Philadelphia to a little hole in the wall called Dalessandro's for a cheesesteak. I will order it with American cheese.

I don't really care for provolone except on an Italian sub. Cheese Whiz is very good, but it makes for a messy sandwich experience, which may not necessarily be a bad thing.

All of that said, I wouldn't kick a cheesesteak with provolone or Cheese Whiz out of bed, it's just not my preference.

Finally, if you ever find yourself in Philadelphia and want that quintessential City of Brotherly Love delicacy, skip Pat's, skip Geno's; they're for tourists. Hit Dalessandro's, which is a bit of your way, but worth it.

Q: "Rank these pies: Pumpkin, chicken pot, sweet potato, pecan, apple." - @yoburnersburner

Putting chicken pot pie among these other sweeter options makes you my kind of guy. Let's do it.

1. Pecan pie: Small caveat. I have this ranked No. 1 out of these five options based solely on bourbon pecan pie, which I had for the first time a couple of Thanksgivings ago and now want every Thanksgiving.

2. Chicken pot pie: A hearty meal in a pie crust, who says no? My wife is away most of next week on a work trip. I can almost guarantee I'm having a Stouffer's chicken pot pie one night for dinner.

3. Apple pie: Overrated as overrated gets. I'll be polite and have some, but I don't want it.

N/A: Pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie: I honestly don't think I've ever had either. I covered a few mailbags ago that liking pumpkin-flavored things is new for me. As for sweet potato pie, it just wasn't a dessert option when I was a kid. I dunno.

Q: "Do you think that they'll permanently move Sione Vaki to running back and take him off the defense? Wait until next year to do it?" - @SpencerCards

Not that this was ever in doubt, but between Whittingham's postgame press conference after Cal, followed by Whittingham and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig addressing the media on Monday, it was made clear that Vaki will continue to play both ways.

Permanently moving Vaki to offense is not under consideration as this situation at its core has to do with depth, or lack thereof. Micah Bernard and Chris Curry are out for the year, and Ja'Quinden Jackson has been banged for much of this season, although he looked healthier than he's been all season vs. Cal.

Furthermore, he's a starting safety. They're not taking him out of there.

As for next year, no, I don't envision this being a permanent move for Vaki, but if this experiment continues to bear fruit, don't rule Vaki playing at least some role on offense from time to time. He is a dynamic weapon, and if he's making your offense better, giving him the occasional cameo with the ball in his hands is a good idea.

Q: "Can you hit us with a definitive Pac-12 ranking in terms of Halloween candy? For example, Reese's is top tier, Candy corn is bottom tier." - @mattaiken92

Love it.

For the unaware, after Pac-12 games end on Saturdays, I do a half-serious DEFINITIVE Pac-12 ranking, which includes a goofy headline for each tier of teams. Note the ALL CAPS. That lets you know my rankings are legit.

My guy here wants a DEFINITIVE ranking of Halloween candy? 'Tis the season.

ABSOLUTE WAGON

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

RIGHT THERE

• M&Ms
• Snickers
• Milky Way

CONTENDERS

• Twix
• Butterfinger
• Mini Hershey bars (includes Krackle, Mr. GoodBar, etc.)
• Nerds

OK, FINE

• KitKat
• Skittles
• Starburst
• Sprees
• Jolly Ranchers

BELONGS IN THE TRASH

• Twizzlers
• Circus Peanuts
• Smarties
• Good & Plenty
• Necco Wafers
• Those stupid wax cola bottles
• Tootsie Rolls

AN AFFRONT TO EVERYTHING I LOVE

• Candy corn

Q: "Is Nate Johnson banged up or have the coaches lost confidence in him? I can't argue with results, but why not have Nate play QB in the Wildcat, adding the throw dimension, while Vaki plays RB and can also take direct snaps? I thought Nate had athleticism they also wanted on the field." - @MCrouse_

If Nate Johnson is banged up, it doesn't matter, because he's healthy enough to be the backup quarterback right now. Have the coaches lost confidence in him? That's a loaded question without an easy answer.

I actually have plans to get into essentially this topic later this week ahead of USC, but we can get into it some now.

I don't think there's much of an argument right now that Bryson Barnes is Utah's best option at quarterback until Cam Rising is ready. I don't think that's going to change either because, frankly, despite whatever deficiencies there are, Barnes has better command of Andy Ludwig's scheme, and he is a better passer than Johnson.

Johnson does have athleticism and a skill set that commands game reps, but then Sione Vaki ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Barnes is the QB, it's been made clear Vaki is going to keep playing offense. Juggling Johnson in there isn't going to happen, and Andy Ludwig said as much on Monday.

Q: "If Cam Rising doesn't play a snap this year, what would you consider a successful season given the circumstances?" - @BrentMcCormick1

Groan.

Sitting at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-12 with the way this offense has looked, let alone Rising's absence, feels like a pretty monumental achievement. Seriously, did you see this offense play vs. UCLA.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but given the circumstances, Utah is still better than Arizona State and Colorado, and while a trip to Arizona is no longer the automatic check mark it once was, I like the Utes to play some defense and get that one, too. So, 8-4? Maybe 9-3 if you steal one against USC, Oregon, or Washington? Let's say 8-4.

If this Utah team, without Rising and with a boatload of early injuries, goes 8-4, I think that's a good accomplishment.

We had a conversation like this late last season, when Utah was looking at 9-3 and no Pac-12 championship game until everything broke right and the Utes wound up getting there. Everything needs context. That team, with all those injuries, plus the Tavion Thomas circus, going 9-3 would have been a strong season.

And yes, I will understand if fans want to get aggravated if this team goes 8-4, because yes, if that comes to be, there will be valid frustration that this season could have been so much more if injuries didn't deter things.

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